3.9 - Queer in India: Exploring LGBTQ+ Life with Suraj Namboodiri

In today's episode, our hosts Gwenda and Tatjana talk about being Queer in India with our podcast guest Suraj Namboodiri. Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GTconversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and join the conversation. G+T Catch-up: Gwenda and Tatjana are in the Christmas spirit with festive events such as a cake mixing ceremony in Bandra, the Christmas Tree Lighting at Tatjana's husband's hotel. Gwenda attended the Indian Sports Management Conference. Tatjana and her husband enjoyed a few child-free days because their daughter went on a overnight trip with school. Gwenda and Tatjana caught up in person with our podcast guest Suraj over coffee before recording today's episode. How can you be a good ally? Research and Empathy. Some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Our podcast guest is Suraj Namboodiri who is a fitness coach, an actor, and content creator. He is a queer person living in Mumbai and you can follow him on Instagram at @thefitgayunicorn Representation matters: seeing positive queer characters in Bollywood movies and overall media is important for young people to grow up knowing that being queer is totally fine. Lack of Support System: Coming out is linked to fear of being outcast by family, friends, and overall society. Section 377 was removed in 2018 and de-criminalized same-sex relations. Post 2018, companies and organizations have started to implement anti-homophobic policies to protect queer people. We continue to fight for equal rights like same-sex marriage, etc. Some Queer Instagram accounts to follow: Naz Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/naz_foundation/ Yes, We Exist: https://www.instagram.com/yesweexistindia/ Sushant Divgikr: https://www.instagram.com/sushantdivgikr/ Suraj Namboodiri: https://www.instagram.com/thefitgayunicorn/ Honey Imm Home: https://www.instagram.com/honey.imm.home/ Trinetra: https://www.instagram.com/trinetra/ Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GTconversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gwendaschobert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@craving_expat_life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tune in every Friday for a new episode. * G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters. The music is Motivating Indie Rock (30s) by UNIVERSFIELD (https://freesound.org/s/755863/, License: Attribution 4.0) and Fifties Stomp Clap Loop 115BPM.wav by waggstar (https://freesound.org/s/698782/, License: Creative Commons 0).